Oregon offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich says there's no quarterback controversy and that Darron Thomas is clearly the starter. But if there was a controversy, it was all because head coach Chip Kelly allowed it to happen, according to The (Eugene, Ore.) Press-Register.

Thomas was lifted in favor of freshman Bryan Bennett during the second half of Saturday's game as the Ducks struggle to put away Washington State. Bennett threw for 88 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts and also ran for 25 yards in the Oregon win.

But questions about a potential quarterback controversy were only directed at Helfrich, Thomas and Bennett after Kelly allowed the mystery to simmer.

Among Kelly's postgame comments:

• “We’ll play at least one guy. It will be between Darron Thomas, Bryan Bennett, Marcus Mariota and Dustin Haines.”

• “I’ll play 17 quarterbacks if it’s gonna help us win. ... We can do this dance all day long if you want.”

Thomas was playing for the first time since injuring his knees two weeks earlier against Arizona State. After missing Oregon's 45-2 victory over Colorado, he was 8 of 13 passing for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Cougars. Kelly said the decision to bench Thomas was part-performance, part-injury.

“There were some things that Darron did (that were) out of character,” Helfrich said, according to The Press-Register. “What percentage is an injury, what percentage is confidence, what percentage is what they’re doing, what percentage is what we’re doing?”

The Ducks, winners of seven straight since a season-opening loss to No. 1 LSU, need a healthy Thomas as they hit the most difficult stretch of their season. After a trip to Washington on Saturday, Oregon visits No. 4 Stanford in a game that will most likely decide the Pac-12 North. Oregon then closes with home games against USC and the Civil War against Oregon State.